Comparative Pharmacognostic Profiling of Three Major Millets

Background

Millets are small-grained nutri-cereals of the family Poaceae and are increasingly recognized for their nutritional and functional significance. Establishing standardized quality parameters is essential for their authentication and proper utilization.

Objectives

This study presents a comparative evaluation of the anatomical, physicochemical, and phytochemical characteristics of three major millets-finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench).

Materials and Methods

Macro- and microscopic analyses, physicochemical assessments, preliminary phytochemical screening, and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting were performed using standard pharmacognostic procedures.

Results

Distinct differences were observed in the cellular architecture of the grains. Physicochemical parameters, including moisture content, ash values, and extractive values, exhibited notable intergeneric variations. HPTLC profiling demonstrated characteristic banding patterns at specific wavelengths, reflecting the presence of diverse phytoconstituents across the three millets.

Conclusion

The anatomical features, physicochemical constants, and HPTLC fingerprints generated in this study serve as reliable reference standards for the identification, authentication, and quality assessment of finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum.